A Survey of Mycorrhizal Colonization in the 50-ha Korup Forest Dynamic Plot in Cameroon

Eneke Esoeyang Tambe Bechem, George Bindeh Chuyong, Belinda Tengu Fon

Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.

DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2014.510155                

Abstract

A study was carried out in the 50-ha Korup Forest Dynamic Plot in South West Cameroon, to evaluate the diversity of mycorrhizal associations as well as to determine the effect of habitat types on the type of mycorrhizal association. A total of 781 individual trees belonging to 51 families, 165 genera and 252 tree species, were sampled from the four habitat types found in the plot: low drier, hill slope, ridge top and wetland complexes. In each habitat type, all stems ≤ 1 cm depth at breast height had already been tagged, measured, mapped and identified to the species level. Root samples were collected, cleared, stained and examined microscopically for mycorrhizal type. Of the total number of species sampled, 248 (98.41%) formed mycorrhizal associations with only 4 (1.59%) being non mycorrhizal. For mycorrhizal trees, 232 (93.55%) formed exclusively arbuscular mycorrhiza, 10 (4.03%) formed ectomycorrhiza, while 6 (2.42%) formed both ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhiza. The ridge top harbored the least number (152) of mycorrhizal trees while the low drier area harbored the most number (266) of mycorrhizal trees. Although habitat effect was not significant in influencing mycorrhizal colonization of tree species, some tree species did show aggregated patterns in particular habitats.

Keywords

Korup Forest Dynamic Plot, Arbuscular Mycorrhiza, Ectomycorrhiza, Cameroon

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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